Interchangeable tire valve



March 14, 1933. E. EGER IN'ITERCHANGEABLE TIRE VALVE' Filed April 16",1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Erna-Z 5y ATTdRNEY March 14, 1933. I E.EGER 1,901,637

INTERCHANGEABLE TIRE VALVE Filed April 16, 1950- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'INVENTOR Ernst Eye 7" I A Y Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ERNST EGER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MORGAN & WRIGHT,.OFDETROIT,

MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN INTEREANGEABLE TIRE VALVEApplication filed April 16,

My invention relates to interchangeable tire valves, and moreparticularly to valve stems and means for attaching them to tubes.

In the manufacture of tubes it is a general practice to secure a valvestem to the tube in the course of manufacture at the factory.Ordinarily, it is not advisable to change a valve stem after the tube isfinished because the flanged portion or anchor of the valve, must beremovedfrom the interior of the tube. Removal of avalve stem is not onlyadifficult task but produces undue stretching and possible tearing ofthe rubber around the stem, both of which are detrimental to the tube.In many cases a fabric remforcement is placed in the tube around theopenings for the valve stem. In heavy duty tubes equipped with suchfabric reinforcement, the valve stem cannot be removed through the valvestem opening but requires that the tube must be cut opposite the valvehole 1f the valve stem is to be removed.

Present wheel and rim'construction are of widely varying characteristicsand necessitate the use of valve stems in various styles and shapes fora single sized tube. The number of sized tubes now in common use isconsiderable. Consequently, a dealer must carry a large assortment oftubes in stock in order to be able to supply the various styles, shapesand sized tubes required. This requires the investment of considerable'capital in stock and also the provision of considerable space forcarrying such a stock.

Some of the tubes with special valves are demanded infrequently, andmany of them tend to become obsolete, leaving such tubes on dealershands for considerable lengths of time, with the liability ofdeterioration with 40 age fora valve stem secured internally thereof andprojecting through the usual valve'stem openlng. The exterior of thebase is provided with means for the attachment of a valve stem of anyparticular type and style. 7 Accordingly, the dealer need only carry astock of valve stems conforming to the various styles and shapesrequired. When a tube with a valve stem of any particular-shape orfprovide different sized tubes with a base exteriorly of the teeth forconstituting a seal 1930. Serial No. 444,859.

style is required, the proper sized tube. is taken from stock and thedesired style and shape of-valve stem is applied to the anchor or basealready fastened into the tube. This eliminates the need for cuttingtubes, removing valve stems and inserting new valve stems to meetparticular requirements, which has heretofore been a common practice.

By my invention the customer is apt to receivea tube of fresher stockthan where the tubes are manufactured with the va'lve stems in place,since the tubes in the less frequently used styles of valve stems can betaken from currentstocks rather than held indefinitely until aparticular style and shape of valve stem is called for. Means areprovided for .closing the base and excluding air from the tubes duringshipment. Means are also provided on the base and valve stems whichcooperate to constitute a lock nut upon the application'of the valvestem. Y

The accompanying drawings illustrate a present preferred embodiment ofthe invention, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly insection, of a valve stem applied to a tire tube.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a valve stem.

ig. 3 is a perspective view of a base.

Fig. 4 is a viewpartly in section showing a sealing cap attached to thebase, and

Figures 5 andv 6 are broken perspective views of different forms ofvalve stems and bridge washers.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, a tube 55 1 of rubber is providedwith the usual opening 2 for the reception of a valve stem. A base oranchor 3 for a tire valve is inserted in the opening 2. The base 3comprises a cir cular flange 4 on the upper face of which formations 5illustrated as radial ratchet teeth are rovided for engaging the tube2.. Another ormation illustrated as a circumferential flange orraisedrib 6 is disposed to prevent the leakage of air around the base when thetube is in use. The formations or projections 5 and "rib 6-m'a obvi--ously be used with advantage out e contacting or sealing surface of anyvalve, flange or element, where it is desired to prevent relativerotation and leakage between the valve element and the inflatablearticle to which the valve is clamped. The base 3 is provided with alongitudinal opening 7 which communicates between the interior of thetube and the atmosphere or a valve stem. The base is provided withexternal threads 8 which extend beyond the outer surface of the tube 1for the reception of a valve stem or cap, as desired.

The base 3 is assembled with the tube 1 in the coursev of manufactureand thereafter remains as a part of the tube. The base 3 may be used asa connecting means for inflating the tube during vulcanization, in whichcase the tube is vulcanized to the base and retains the latter in thetube opening. If desired, the base may be covered with a suitable cementor compound, an example of which is vulcolac, for assuring good adhesionbe tween the metal of the base and the rubber of the tube. 1

The tube and attached base 3 are shipped as articles of commerce todealers without a valve stem necessarily being attached. When it isdesired to rovide a tube of a given size with a particu ar style andshape of valve stem, a suitable valve stem 9 containing the usual valvemechanism (not shown) and internal threads 10 for cooperation with thethreads 8 is-se'cured onto the projecting portion of the base 3. j

The valve stem 9 is provided with a flange 11, corresponding to theflange 4, and with formations illustrated as teeth 12 and acircumferential flange 13 for cooperating with the teeth 5 and flange(ion the base 3 respectively. Accordingly, when the valve stem isscrewed onto the base the teeth 12 and 5, which preferably slope inopposite direc- .tions, serve to prevent rotation of the valve and 13prevent leakage o stem when in use. The opposing flanges 6 air throughthe joint whereby a base carried by the tube and an interchangeable,valve stem constitute a two-piece valve structure for making a tightconnection with the material of the tube. If desired, the surfaces ofthe rubber may be lubricated as by wetting or by the application of anon-injurious fluid when the valve stem 9 is placed in position.Opposite surfaces 14 of the valve stem may be flattened to serve as toolengaging surfaces, if desired. The valve stem 9 is also provided with aduct 15 and threads 16, for the application of the usualcap, not shown.

'To prevent the base '3 from falling back into the tube through theopening 2 before a valve stem is permanently applied, and particularlyduring transportation for long dis- 7 tances with severe handling, a cap17 having internal threads '18 may be applied to the base as shown inFig. 4. If it is desired that the interior of the tube be exhausted ofair and sealed from the atmos here, as where the tube is to be confinedin tlib smallest space possible, the cap 17 maybe made imperforate andhave a tight fit with the threads 8.-

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a bridge washer may be secured to theinterchangeable valve stem. As shown in Figure 5, the valve stenf 19 isprovided with threads 20 near a flange 21 corresponding to the flange11. A bridge washer 22 is slipped over the valve stem 19 and bearsagainst the upper surface of the flange 21. A clamping washer 24 isthreaded to the threads 20 for clamping the bridge washer in place. InFigure 6, I have shown an amplification of the invention in which abridge washer 25 is made integral with a flange portion 26 correspondingto the flange 11. The integral bridge washer and flange are united tothe valve stem'27 as a unitary structure.

ent preferred embodiment of the invention,

. While I have shown and described a pres it is to be understood thatthe invention may I be otherwise embodied within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the accompanying claims. I

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

1. A valve for inner tubes comprisinga base portion having a flangeadapted to contact with the inner wall of the inner tube and a studportion adapted to project through and clear of the wall of the innertube, in combination with a stem portionadapted to be attached to saidbase portion,

said stem portion having a flange adapted to cooperate with the flangeof said'base portion to clamp the two portions in service position onthe inner tube, the tubecontacting surface of at least one of saidflanges having spaced projections, each projection extending outwardlyfrom a central passageway to near the edge of said flange or flanges forpreventing rotation in service of said flange with respect to said tubein at least one direction, and a raised rib surrounding said projectionsfor preventing fluid leakage around said valve.

2. A valve for inner tubes comprising a ferentially spaced teeth slopingin one direction and opposite to the direction of the teeth on the otherflange for preventing rotation wanes? in service of said flanges withrespect to said tub in at least one direction.

3. A valve for inner tubes comprising a base portion having a flangeadapted to contact with the inner wall of the inner tube and a studportion adapted to project through and clear the wall of the inner tube,in combination with a stem portion adapted to be attached to said baseportion, said stem portion havin a flange adapted to cooperate with theange of said base portion to clarnp the two portions in service positionon the inner tube, the tube contacting surface of each flange having.circumferentially 1 spaced teeth sloping in one direction and oppositeto the direction of the teeth on the other flange for preventingrotation in service of said flanges with respect to said tube in atleast one direction, and opposed ribs surrounding said teeth forpreventing fluid leakage around said valve.

,4. A valve for inner tubes comprising a base portion having a flangeadapted to contact with the inner wall of the inner tube 2 and a studportion adapted to project through and clear of the. wall of the innertube, in combination with a stem portion adapted to be attached to saidbase portion, said stem portion having a flange adapted 3 to cooperatewith the flange of said base portion to clamp the two portions inservice position on the inner tube, the tube contacting surfaces of saidflanges having oppositely inclined radial ratchet teeth, and opposed 3ribs surrounding said teeth for preventing fluid leakage around saidvalve.

5. A valve element comprising a hollow upstanding, portion adapted toextend outwardly from a tube in alignment with an 40 opening in thetube, a substantially flat plate portion fixed to said hollow portionand adapted to engage a surface of said tube around the opening in thetube, and the tube engaging surface of said plate portion being providedwith a plurality. of radial ratchet teeth for preventing rotation of theelement with respect to the tube under service conditions.

Signed at Detroit, in the county of Wayne so and Stateof Michigan, this24th day 0% March, 1930.

' ERNST EGER.

